The ARCHES Executive Team provides guidance and oversight to the organization, maintaining a focus on the critical goal of improving student achievement and closing the achievement gap. The Executive Team represents the range of California’s public education system.
The ARCHES Executive Team currently includes:
Zulmara (Zee) Cline, Ph.D
Title: Statewide Director, California Academic Partnership Program (CAPP), California State University (CSU)
Role: Chair of the ARCHES Executive Team and California State University Representative
Background: Prior to joining the CSU Chancellor’s Office, Dr. Cline was a professor at CSU San Marcos teaching literacy, multicultural and leadership classes. Dr. Cline brings over 34 years of K-12 and higher education experience as a kindergarten teacher and administrator.
Penny Edgert
Title: Executive Director, California Education Round Table Intersegmental Coordinating Committee (ICC)
Role: ARCHES Executive Team Member and Treasurer
Background: Prior to leading the ICC, she previously served as Assistant Director, Academic Policy and Programs, at the California Postsecondary Education Commission. Dr. Edgert brings over 40 years of experience in education at the nexus between public schools and higher education.
Jorge Aguilar
Title: Superintendent, Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD)
Role: ARCHES Executive Team Member and K-12 Sector Representative
Background: Prior to his appointment as SCUSD Superintendent, he served as Associate Superintendent for Equity and Access at Fresno Unified School District and as Associate Vice Chancellor for Educational and Community Partnerships at the University of California, Merced. Superintendent Aguilar has more than 20 years of K-12 and higher education experience as a high school teacher and college administrator.
Chelsea Bowler-Shelton
Title: Principal, Western Sierra Collegiate Academy (WSCA)
Role: ARCHES Executive Team Member and K-12 Sector Representative
Background: Prior to her selection as Principal at WSCA, she served as Principal of Valley High School in the Elk Grove Unified School District. Ms. Bowler-Shelton brings over 15 years of K-12 education experience as a teacher, instructional specialist, and administrator.
Dennis Galligani
Title: Former Associate Vice President for Student Academic Services, University of California Office of the President
Role: ARCHES Emeritus Executive Team Member
Background: Prior to his role at the Office of the President of the University of California, Dr. Galligani was the Assistant Vice Chancellor of the University of California, Irvine and served the University of California system for 32 years. Upon leaving UC, he was one of the two founding Executive Directors of ARCHES. Dr. Galligani brings 45 years of experience as a higher educational administrator.
James Lanich
Title: President and CEO, Education Results Partnership
Role: ARCHES Executive Team Member and Business Partners Representative
Background: Dr. Lanich formerly served as Executive Director for Just for the Kids- California and founded the Education Results Partnership to provide a forum for educators to collaborate and share best practices based on reliable, actionable data. Dr. Lanich brings over 20 years of experience as a public school teacher, administrator, and university professor.
Michael Miller
Title: Vice President for Student Services, Holy Names University
Role: ARCHES Executive Team Member and Non-profit Independent Colleges and Universities Representative
Background: Prior to his current position at Holy Names University, Mr. Miller served as the Chief Student Affairs Officer at Rockford College, where he was a cofounder and administrator of the Jane Addams Center for Civic Engagement, a strategic initiative designed to foster citizenship through service. Mr. Miller brings over 25 years of experience in higher education as a professor and administrator.
Rick Miller
Title: Executive Director, CORE Districts
Role: ARCHES Executive Team Member
Background: Prior to joining CORE Districts, Mr. Miller was the Executive Director of ARCHES and served as Deputy State Superintendent for P-16 Policy and Information Branch of the California Department of Education. He developed policy recommendations on promising ways to improve student achievement, specifically focused on closing the state’s achievement gaps. Mr. Miller brings over 20 years of experience in K-12 and higher education as a teacher and senior administrator.
Gerald Ramsey
Title: Vice President, Student Services, San Diego Miramar College
Role: ARCHES Executive Team Member and California Community College System Representative
Background: Prior to his position at San Diego Miramar College, Mr. Ramsey was the Director of Extended Opportunity Programs and services (EOPS), Outreach and California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (Cal-Works) as well as VP for Student Affairs at San Diego City College. Mr. Ramsey brings more than 30 years of higher education and education public assistance experience as an administrator and community leader.
Jessie Ryan
Title: President and Representative for Area 7, Sacramento City Unified School Board
Role: ARCHES Executive Team Member and Community Organization Representative
Background: Ms. Ryan serves as the Executive Vice President for the Campaign for College Opportunity, where she shepherded historic transfer reform legislation to simplify the transfer pathway from community colleges to baccalaureate granting institutions as well as led efforts to reform remedial education. Mrs. Ryan brings over 12 years of experience in the field of education as an administrator, education advocate, and policymaker.
Sandra Williams-Hamp
Title: Executive Director, Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement, University of California’s Office of Diversity and Engagement
Role: ARCHES Executive Team Member and University of California Representative
Background: Ms. Williams-Hamp previously worked for the College Board as the executive director for K–12 in the 12 western states for more than 18 years. Ms. Williams-Hamp brings over 27 years of experience in K–12 educational strategy, strategic partnerships, and program implementation.